How Drones Contribute to Weather Prediction

The evolution of drones is assisting researchers with weather forecasting and analysis of weather patterns across the globe.

FREMONT, CA: Drones are contributing to various applications, from delivering pizza to vacuuming up ocean waste. The rise of drones is also eliminating many of the dangerous as well as complex manual jobs. Several industries are using drone services for operational purposes. For instance, the surge in the usage of drones has led the researchers to design specialized unmanned aircraft vehicles that can collect weather data. According to ProPhotoUAV, such a feature would enable researchers to make weather predictions with the help of real-time data. Meanwhile, the constant betterment in drone technology will directly influence the reliability of drone-based weather prediction systems.

Presently, meteorologists are using satellites, radar, mobile measurements, and weather balloons to cover storms and weather data. However, there is a gap in current data generation capabilities that can be filled via the drones. Drones will enable scientists to receive risk-free data that could not be gathered in any other way. For instance, when there is a need to collect data from the middle of a storm, it would be much efficient, safer as well as affordable to send a robust drone rather than an aircraft along with a human operator.

Apart from aerial weather predictions, oceanic researchers are using sea drones to help forecast weather conditions and comprehend the changing weather conditions around the world. Equipment like Saildrones is being leveraged for the above purpose. Saildrones can be used with various types of sensors in order to collect and transmit real-time measurements, including humidity, temperature, wind, solar radiation, and weather patterns. Such data are then being used for weather forecasting as well as research studies. Such a capability will help the meteorologists to understand and study various factors that influence weather conditions.

The innovations in drone technology will further power the accuracy of the weather forecasts and aid the meteorologists with research and analysis.